Galectins are soluble glycan-binding proteins that interact with a wide range of glycoproteins and glycolipids and modulate a broad spectrum of physiological and pathological processes. The expression and subcellular localization of different galectins vary among tissues and cell types and change during processes of tissue repair, fibrosis and cancer where epithelial cells loss differentiation while acquiring migratory mesenchymal phenotypes. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that occurs in the context of these processes can include modifications of glycosylation patterns of glycolipids and glycoproteins affecting their interactions with galectins. Moreover, overexpression of certain galectins has been involved in the development and different outcomes of EMT. This review focuses on the roles and mechanisms of Galectin-1 (Gal-1), Gal-3, Gal-4, Gal-7 and Gal-8, which have been involved in physiologic and pathogenic EMT contexts.

中文翻译：

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半乳糖凝集素在上皮间质转化中的作用和机制有助于组织修复、纤维化和癌症转移

半乳糖凝集素是可溶性聚糖结合蛋白，可与多种糖蛋白和糖脂相互作用，并调节广泛的生理和病理过程。不同的半乳糖凝集素的表达和亚细胞定位因组织和细胞类型而异，并且在组织修复、纤维化和癌症过程中发生变化，其中上皮细胞失去分化，同时获得迁移的间充质表型。在这些过程中发生的上皮-间质转化（EMT）可能包括糖脂和糖蛋白糖基化模式的改变，从而影响它们与半乳糖凝集素的相互作用。此外，某些半乳糖凝集素的过度表达参与了 EMT 的发展和不同结果。本综述重点介绍半乳糖凝集素-1 (Gal-1)、Gal-3、Gal-4、Gal-7 和 Gal-8 的作用和机制，这些物质参与了生理和致病性 EMT 环境。